Freshmen Derek Simpson and Antwone Woolfolk, who will be needed in Big Ten competition, have gotten valuable time and shown growth this month. Still, McConnells basketball future was cloudy as the end of his senior season approached. b3ItMjAyMi0yMy1zZWFzb24mYzU9MjAyMjczMzE0MCZjdj0yLjAmY2o9MSZj With McConnell's return, Rutgers Basketball now has two open scholarships remaining. Dont be surprised of the Blue Devils (0-7) remain on Rutgers schedule going forward. He was previously selected to the watchlist last month. Count them out at your own risk. bmV3cyUyRmNhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m He announced his decision with an Instagram video on June 1st calling Rutgers Nation from his hometown in Florida. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Are Democrats excited about another Biden run? Pikiell told McConnell to take his time, but McConnells mind was made up: He was coming back to help this team. UNBREAKABLE.. Y29tc2NvcmUgPSBfY29tc2NvcmUgfHwgW107CiAgX2NvbXNjb3JlLnB1c2go Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. c191Y2ZyPTAiIC8+Cjwvbm9zY3JpcHQ+CjwhLS0gRW5kIGNvbVNjb3JlIFRh It will be the final home game of fifth-year senior Caleb McConnells career as he runs out of collegiate eligibility after this season. After being spurned by just about every Big Ten school, McConnell is now a key member of Rutgers basketball renaissance who, with eight games remaining in his senior season, is a top candidate for the conferences Defender of the Year award. . There were many big plays, including Geo Bakers clutch drive with the game on the line to draw the foul and knock down the pair of free throws. Its paid off immensely: McConnell leads the Big Ten in steals (2.1 per game), provided game-changing defensive performances in numerous wins -- including upsets of Big Ten title contenders Purdue and Michigan State -- and is in the thick of the race for the award with a month left in the regular season. The more Briski learned about him, the more there was to like. AP Top 25 Poll: Rutgers drops out of national rankings once again NJ . Visit ESPN for the play-by-play of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers NCAAM basketball game on 3 March 2023 . Brian Fonseca may be reached at bfonseca@njadvancemedia.com. Rutgers Wrestling: Coach Scott Goodale gives early lineup preview, Rutgers Football: 5 things to watch during training camp. Bryant returned to his roots in Dayton, Ohio, while Stefanie followed her family to Jacksonville, Fla. Kristian Dyer. Expect McConnell to once again be one of the Big Ten Conference's top defenders in the 2022-23 season, as he hopes to continue to develop his game and help lead Rutgers to their third straight NCAA Tournament appearance. "And as a competitor, Ive got to rise to the occasion.. He was by no means a flashy recruit and was the third-highest recruit out of 4 in Rutgers' 2018 class.. Now, McConnell has recently been crowned the Big . Minnesota won 75-74. PISCATAWAY A huge cheer arose from the 5,000 denizens of Jersey Mikes Arena five minutes into Saturdays game, when Caleb McConnell rose from the bench and checked in at the scorers table. He adjusted the brace a few times, short-ironed a couple of shots, but did a lot of the dirty-work as usual deflecting balls, altering shots, setting screens, making the extra pass. McConnell, who led the conference with 70 steals last season, decided for one last ride with his beloved Scarlet Knights after working out with several NBA teams this offseason. I said, What are you talking about? Briski said. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. All rights reserved (About Us). I got to play for my brothers.. He was one of ten that made the cut as a semifinalist last season. Over the last five years, Caleb McConnell has been a steady presence in the Rutgers lineup. All I wanted to do was play basketball.. And he was tougher than Briski could have imagined. How do you define wealth and a good life? Last year, McConnell averaged 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists . eTpoaWRkZW4nIHdpZHRoPScwJz48L2lmcmFtZT4KPC9ub3NjcmlwdD4KCgo=, PGRpdiBjbGFzcz0ncmEtY29udGFpbmVyIGRpc3Ryb19hZCc+CjxkaXYgY2xh "Ive been out these last six weeks and had just three or four practices. Its a real morale booster to see Caleb on the floor," sophomore guard Jalen Miller said. --------------------------------------------------------------, Talk about it inside The Round Table Message Board, Talk about it on the Rutgers Hoops Free Message Board, PHNjcmlwdD4KICAoZnVuY3Rpb24odyxkLHMsbCxpKXsKICAgICAgICBpZiAo When visiting his dad in the summer, the routine was the same: hours spent at outdoor courts and in the local recreation center, where his aunt organized a basketball camp. McConnell is one of three foundational veterans in the program, along with Omoruyi and senior point guard Paul Mulcahy. He announced his decision with an Instagram video on June 1st "calling Rutgers Nation" from his hometown in Florida. Thank you to all the coaches and staff for supporting me and helping me evolve into the player and person that I am today. Those three three years of eating, sleeping and breathing basketball turned McConnell into a Division I prospect. With 178 career steals he ties James Bailey.#TheKnighthood pic.twitter.com/z7B2L16nqz, Rutgers Mens Basketball (@RutgersMBB) January 12, 2023. Play By Play - 1st Half; Time Remaining RU Away Team Score Play Team Indicator Home Team Score PSU Game Score Team Indicator Play; 19:36: TURNOVER by MCCONNELL,CALEB The brotherhood, the culture and the friendships we built with each other are going to last forever. Imh0dHBzOi8vc2Iuc2NvcmVjYXJkcmVzZWFyY2guY29tL3A/YzE9MiZjMj03 Terms at draftkings.com/sportsbook. 25 Ohio State a 67-66 victory over Rutgers on Thursday night. Caleb Mcconnell gets the layup to fall vs. Penn State Nittany Lions. My friends would ask what I was doing or to hang out and Id tell them to meet me at the park. Its great to have him it gives me a lift.. ", Of the brace, he said, "It doesnt hinder my game. Follow. The kids fearless, man. I think hes the best and the most versatile defender in the league, Pikiell said. 16 Ohio State (four), No. I wouldnt say 100 percent, but definitely healthy," McConnell said. He woke his dad at 6 a.m. every morning for rides to workouts with a personal trainer. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell grimaces after colliding with a Minnesota player during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Minneapolis. From top to bottom I think were good," McConnell said when asked to compare it to last year's NCAA qualifier. 70413 lego - Der TOP-Favorit unserer Produkttester. It was his way of getting me better. 8/10 Indiana, Earned All-Met Player of the Week (Dec. 6), Named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, First Rutgers player to win conference Defensive Player of the Year award since Hamady Ndiaye in 2009-10, Also named Named Honorable Mention All-Big Ten and to Big Ten All-Defensive Team. Of course, he was ultimately named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. JyZndG1fcHJldmlldz0nKydlbnYtMScrJyZndG1fY29va2llc193aW49eCc7 aWQ9J2RzX2RlZmF1bHRfYW5jaG9yJz48L2Rpdj4KPC9kaXY+CjwvZGl2PgoK, Certain Data by Sportradar and Stats Perform, PCEtLSBCZWdpbiBjb21TY29yZSBUYWcgLS0+Cgo8c2NyaXB0PgogIHZhciBf And yet, just like this team over the past month, McConnell fought back in the play and came through in the end. aWdodD0nMCcgc3JjPSdodHRwczovL3d3dy5nb29nbGV0YWdtYW5hZ2VyLmNv Iowa State kicks senior guard off team: 'Said something I Daniel Jones needs to see big picture in Giants negotiations, Red-hot Jon Rahm no match for wind-swept Bay Hill: 'F--king hard', Unprecedented turnaround sets this team up to be MLB's greatest show, The Marchand and Ourand Sports Media Podcast, The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Amazin' But True: A NY Mets Baseball Podcast, Gangs All Here: A NY Jets Football Podcast, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce, Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave. That has made Rutgers a tough matchup regardless of the opponent. The senior guard came through on the defensive end to save the game for Rutgers in the upset of No. As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell averaged 7.1 points per game, 5.3 rebounds per game, 2.1 assists per game and 2.2 steals per game, all of which were considered career highs for him. Caleb McConnell made the second of two free throws for Rutgers with 5.8 seconds left before Battle stole the win for the Gophers. Get a yearly subscription for $99.95/year or $9.95/month. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Chris Corso, A post shared by Rutgers Basketball (@rutgersmbb). It was a match made in heaven, Briski said. Garcia added 19 points and Pharrel Payne had 15 for Minnesota (8-20, 2-16 Big Ten), which shot 54 percent (15 of 28) in the second half and made 11 of 24 3-pointers overall. Please check your email for a confirmation. McConnell will give it everything he has, carried by the unbreakable mindset that got him here, sharing all the fruits of his labor with those who backed him up along the way. Season-saving. Scored in double-figures four times in a five-game span (Clemson, Purdue, Seton Hall, Maine), 16 points versus Clemson was new career-high, Also set career-highs in rebounds (12, Seton Hall), assists (9, UMass) and steals (6, UMass), Had four steals in each of wins over No. Hammond Morton (8-15) vs. Hammond Central (23-1) Munster (23-2) at Lake Central (16-8) CROWN POINT SECT According to a former coach, he is also toughest damn dude in the Big Ten.. IHMuYXN5bmMgPSB0cnVlOwogICAgLy8gbG9hZGluZyB0aGUgZXZlcmdyZWVu Simply put, it changed the game. After school, hed practice and play with his Dunbar High School team. 1,244 following. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is down to decision time when it comes to his basketball future. Written off, lost and bewildered. They have a 4-3 record against Quad 1 opponents and have won back to back games against ranked foes for the first time since 2008. Thats another thing he had to be strong for, his mother said. 28,939. It was not a seamless transition. Averaged 5.5 points and 2.5 rebounds with 26 steals and 32 assists, Led team in 3-point percentage (35.7%) and was second in team in steals, Among Big Ten freshman, ranked fifth in steals, Scored in double-figures six times, five of those coming against Big Ten foes, including a career-best 25 points at Illinois (Feb. 9), Averaged 11.8 points over the final four games of the season, A 247Sports and Rivals three-star prospect who attended SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio, helping the team to a 22-6 record in 2017-18 under head coach Dave Briski, Averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 steals-per-game as a senior, Scored 30 points with seven assists against Our Savior Lutheran (N.Y.), Ranked the No. What would they talk about? The Scarlet Knights will have to work to earn a bid to the tournament. But the other three scholarship Scarlet Knights who are . Hes always got something lingering, but just doesnt care. RU surrendered a 10-point lead with 1:15 remaining on the clock. Support NJ.com, Brian Fonseca | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. ICAgIGo9ZC5jcmVhdGVFbGVtZW50KHMpLGRsPWwhPSdkYXRhTGF5ZXInPycm There is still the option to withdraw up until June 13th, as per the NBA rules, but that would not allow them to retain their college eligibility. The NCAA opened a window for McConnell to return when it granted every Division I player a free year of eligibility that season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Scarlet Nation continues to hear things are trending in that direction as McConnell could use an extra year to improve his draft stock. * 21+ (19+ CA-ONT) (18+ NH/WY). He has been more involved offensively and is taking advantage of his opportunities. INCREDIBLE BLOCK BY @caleb_mcco . Another look at that block by @caleb_mcco cc @RutgersMBB pic.twitter.com/Tnj4oR0Lci. McConnell was the kind of prospect they wanted a tough kid with lots of upside who loved basketball. Jerry Carino has covered the New Jersey sports scene since 1996 and the college basketball beat since 2003. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is not expected to play in Thursday night's meeting with Michigan due to the back injury he suffered during pregame Read more on nj.com. McConnell was selfless, a kid who loved basketball and hated to let anyone down. Rutgers men's basketball guard Caleb McConnell was named a semifinalist on Tuesday for the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year. Game speed is different than practice; you cant simulate any type of game speed. His movement looked fine, although he seemed a gear short of his typical explosion. How do you survive in here? McConnell asked. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. His level of compete was one of the highest Ive ever seen at that age. Neither do we. ESPN's projections for Rutgers basketball and their NCAA Tournament outlook? As a fourth-year player this past season, McConnell . Without McConnells miraculous play, the eventual 10-0 run is erased and Rutgers would have trailed by six points with just over two minutes to play. All McConnell needed was a chance, and Rutgers was the one that gave it to him. Your account has an invalid email address. Battles game-winning shot capped a 15-4 run in the final 1:15 for Minnesotas only lead of the game. Pikiell actually got Sellers his first college coaching job. Im proud as hell of what hes accomplished, but I cant say Im surprised, Briski said. Rutgers guard Caleb McConnell is not expected to play in Thursday night's meeting with Michigan due to the back injury he suffered during pregame warmups ahead of Saturday's win over Wisconsin . He returned in January as Rutgers went on a five-game losing streak that put its NCAA Tournament hopes in jeopardy. The kids a dog.. Rutgers basketball makes a move down in CBS Sports projections from Jerry Palm. 113. Thank you to Coach Pikiell for believing in me and recruiting a kid from Jacksonville, Florida, and Dayton, Ohio to play at Rutgers when few people believed in me. bS9uZXdzL2NhbGViLW1jY29ubmVsbC1yZXR1cm5pbmctdG8tcnV0Z2Vycy1m 11.3K followers. Having him on the floor automatically improves Rutgers on both ends, especially when it comes to defense. The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. Thank you to the fans, the University and all who played a part in providing me this opportunity to play at Rutgers. PSBkb2N1bWVudC5nZXRFbGVtZW50c0J5VGFnTmFtZSgic2NyaXB0IilbMF07 16 Buckeyes, Played in 20 games (eight starts), averaging 5.7 points and career-best 4.3 rebounds with career-high 29 steals, Did not make season debut until Jan. 2 against No.

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